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Page 2 of 7 <br /> Current Land Use: Agriculture <br /> Vegetation: Existing: Irrigated cropland <br /> Following Reclamation: Irrigated cropland <br /> Soils: Loam to fine sandy loam. Dominant soil types include Kim loam, <br /> Nelson fine sandy loam, and Olney fine sandy loam. <br /> Climate: Mean annual precipitation: 12 to 16 inches <br /> Mean annual air temperature: 46 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit <br /> Frost-free period: 130 to 170 days <br /> Water Resources: An existing irrigation pond is located in the northwestern corner of <br /> the site, approximately 50-feet from the proposed area of <br /> disturbance. There is a field ditch crossing the northeastern portion <br /> of the property, which ties into the Greeley Number 2 Canal on the <br /> east side of Weld County Road 27. The field ditch is <br /> approximately 250-feet from the proposed area of disturbance. <br /> Wildlife: No critical wildlife habitat or wildlife species will be impacted by <br /> the proposed operation. <br /> Project Description <br /> LTS is proposing to mine the upper 50-80 percent of topsoil from the irrigated portion of the site. <br /> Approximately 10-14 inches of topsoil will be removed, leaving at least 3-6 inches on site for <br /> reclamation purposes. The goal is to remove approximately 157,480 tons of topsoil in two phases <br /> over the course of two years. LTS is the landowner and operator of the mining activity and will <br /> be responsible for reclamation of the disturbed area. <br /> Reclamation Methods <br /> Mining and reclamation will occur in two phases: <br /> Phase 1: northeastern half(36.6-acres) (mined in year one and reclaimed concurrently) <br /> Phase 2: southwestern half(41.76-acres) (mined in years one and two and reclaimed <br /> concurrently) <br /> Phasing is depicted on Exhibit F Reclamation Plan Map. Within the first year following permit <br /> approval, the operator will mine topsoil from the northeastern portion of the site then commence <br /> reclamation procedures. Active farming will continue on the southwestern portion of the site <br /> during Phase 1. Upon completion of topsoil excavation from the northeastern portion of the site, <br /> the operator will mine topsoil from the southwestern half of the site then commence reclamation <br /> procedures. Backfilling and grading will be completed as soon as feasible after the mining <br />